HEWITT IN SYDNEY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 29 September 1915, Page 2

HEWITT IN SYDNEY.

After an absence of nine yeacs Leslie H. Hewitt, the prominent New Zealand and Australian jockey, has returned to Australia. Hewitt's career in England and the Continent has been phenomenally successful. He rode in England for J. Buchanan and George Edwardes, one of his mounts there being -Noctuiform, on which he had previously won the A.J.C. Derby. In England Noctuiform, according to Hewitt, did not do himself justice owing to his being fat. . In the following year Hewitt secured a retainer of £1000 from Colonel Hall Walker, who at that time owned Polar Star, White Eagle, and other well-known horses. Among Hewitt's winning mounts in England were Marcovil in the • Cambridgeshire Stakes, The Welkin in the Portland Plate, Lally in the Royal Hunt Cup, and Tagolie in the One Thousand Guineas.

From England he went to Germany under engagement to Prince Hohenlbne Olringen. His first retainer from that owner was £1500, but later he received £2000, with £100 for a second claim from Count Bathany and Prince Festitics. His successes in Germany and Austria kept Hewitt busily engaged, and in the course of his career he accounted for practically every classic race there.

The Derby run at Vienna was about the only classic race he did not win. In one year the placed • horses in that event were ridden by Australians, S. Ferguson being on the winner, B. Carslake on the second, and Hewitt on the third horse.

Altogether Hewitt spent about five years in Germany and Austria, and he also rode in France, Belgium, Italy and Ireland. Among the well-known owners he has ridden for are James Hennessy, of brandy fame, and the Kaiser. He was not permanently retained by the German Emperor, but when riding as a free lance lie secured mounts from his stable. Financially Hewitt's Continental experience was highly successful, even though there is an amount of £2500 for. retaining fees still owing him in Austria and Hungary. Since leaving Australia he has ridden in nearly 500 races, and will probably add to that number by again crossing the saddle here. Hewitt, however, is determined to return to England after the war is over.

Speaking with regard to his experiences on the Continent, Hewitt said he found the Germans and Austrians delightful people to work among, courtesy being one of their strong points. On the other hand he was not so favorably impressed with the Hungarians.

•In Berlin and Vienna he found there was even more gaiety bnan in Paris. From Belgium he returned to England after the outbreak of war, and made his exit without the aid of $ passport. "T jumped a boat going to England," he said, "and when we arrived there tne authorities questioned me as to how I got away witaout-a passport. I told them that 1 just walked on board, and they, thinking that others might have done the same, made a thorough search of the boat." An incident which impressed Hewitt as being unique uas witnessed by him at O&tend. In a casino there, lust as the war commenced, an Englishman placed some English notes on the .gambling table. ■ The money was reiused and thrown on the floor.. So cneap was J^ngLsn money that for the jTrench equivalent of -ti) or £10 a young Australian bo'jgrit £25 in English, money.

It was, significant that four days later English money was at a premium. The scarcity of money in Belgium led to tne adoption of tin discs as coin of the realm. Forty of these discs were purchased by Hewitt for £1; and weie u&ed to purchase articles with.